Crime

A Town of Tonawanda man has been arrested and charged with murder in a case dating back to September 1993. Joseph Belstadt is accused of killing Amanda "Mandy" Steingasser, his former classmate, after allegedly offering her a ride home from a party.

The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct is recommending that Rochester City Court Judge Leticia Astacio is removed from office. The commission says Astacio has 30 days to accept or appeal the decision.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., plans to introduce legislation on Friday to decriminalize marijuana on the federal level, adding a high-profile advocate in the effort to decriminalize, legalize and normalize marijuana use in America.

Five individuals have been indicted on charges they distributed heroin and fentanyl that led directly to the overdose deaths of six individuals. Two superseding indictments were announced Friday by the US Attorney in Buffalo.

In 2007, Anthony Capozzi was cleared after 22 years in prison because long-stored DNA showed he was not the Delaware Park Rapist; it was Altemio Sanchez. The new state budget mandates DNA samples in potential criminal cases be stored for at least 20 years.

While many were wearing green during Sunday's St. Patrick Day parade, 26 patrol officers from Buffalo's B District were wearing body cameras for the first time, with mixed results according to the department.